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My boss and his traveling mate are on their way to Tucson this Easter weekend. I went thru the TrailDEX and found some 3-5 mile RT hikes incl Aspen Draw Trail, Aspen/Marshall Loop and Sunset Trail. But then I was thinking, I don't know if the higher elevation trails would be such a good idea at this time.

Could someone offer some suggestions that I can give him? and remember he's my boss. ;)

There's a chance of rain Saturday, but it should be cool (which is why my fool self is still planning on doing molino to italian trap). There are plenty of lower level 3-5 mile-ish hikes around.

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=632 <-- Douglas Springs trail to Bridal Wreath Falls (Saguaro East)
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=212 <-- Romero pools (Catalina State Park)
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=456 <-- Soldier trail (Mt Lemmon)
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=820 <- Babad Do'ag (Mt Lemmon)

are a few

One of the biggest drawbacks to those hikes is the drive time required. You're looking at over an hour each way from the center of town. Even if he's on the east side of town, the traffic on Catalina Highway right now is such that it would be almost an hour each way, regardless. My suggestion would be Saguaro East in the Cactus Forest (Start early) or something like the first few miles of Pima Canyon to the first dam or Ventana Canyon. Neither would be overly strenuous and both should be pretty lush by then, especially if we get rain early this weekend.

By "those" hikes I meant the ones tibber posted; dysfunction beat me to a response...

I hadn't even thought of the first part of Ventana and Pima! Good calls! I was just thinking short drivetimes

I agree with the above - particularly if you're talking a nice cool weekend like we're going to have, there's no real reason to drive all the way up to the higher hikes (unless you really want pines). Pima is ususally the best bet for an immediate bang for your buck. Cactus forest is beautiful, too. I hope for my own sake that there isn't much rain this weekend - but I hate to be that selfish...

Even though I'm hiking, I still hope for tons of rain

thank you all! I printed out the hikes and even though he says, "I just want one" - I think Diane would like some options. I'll let you know what they decide to do. (PS I thot I already submitted this response so if it shows up twice, sorry.).

writelots wrote:I agree with the above - particularly if you're talking a nice cool weekend like we're going to have, there's no real reason to drive all the way up to the higher hikes (unless you really want pines). Pima is ususally the best bet for an immediate bang for your buck. Cactus forest is beautiful, too. I hope for my own sake that there isn't much rain this weekend - but I hate to be that selfish...

It will greatly simplify water filtration for you, though...

If the rain forecast is changed I would do Seven Falls, using the Bear Canyon Tram if it still exists. It is about exactly a 5 mile hike if you use the tram. If there is to be rain, I suppose that is not a good choice, due to possibility of flash flooding. I would also agree with the suggestions of Ventana Canyon, Pima Canyon, but they don't have the waterfall.

azbackpackr wrote:If the rain forecast is changed I would do Seven Falls, using the Bear Canyon Tram if it still exists. It is about exactly a 5 mile hike if you use the tram. If there is to be rain, I suppose that is not a good choice, due to possibility of flash flooding. I would also agree with the suggestions of Ventana Canyon, Pima Canyon, but they don't have the waterfall.

why use the bear canyon tram? That means that you must park at sabino canyon and pay the fee to park there, as well as pay the fee to ride the tram. Why not just drive east along tanque verde and then head north on bear canyon road and follow it to the end where it dead ends at a dirt road, you then follow the dirt road and it turn west and it leads you to a small parking area that is free. Just hike straight up the trail and it puts you right where the bear canyon tram would drop you off.

In response to Infra:
This is a much better alternative IMO, avoids much of the congestion and most of the annoying pavement.

dysfunction wrote:In response to Infra:
This is a much better alternative IMO, avoids much of the congestion and most of the annoying pavement.

true....I have hiked up that way several times where I have not come across another person until I hit the pavement. Not only that....but heck, its free to park there. Only problem is that some people do tend to walk their dogs out there so you must be mindful of the land mines they leave.

Dogs are not allowed in Sabino on the tram road or otherwise...

IIRC they're allowed to the Forest border on the county trail, it's not a huge way.. but I do see dogs there regularly

Well, there you go, I didn't know about that way of accessing Bear Canyon. She did say 3-5 miles. How long a hike will it be by accessing it that way?

lemme see, I think about 6.

You'd think they'd be able to enforce the laws at Sabino, at least. This is ridiculous...totally ridiculous.

I think Infra's talking about the Pima County Park section from Bear Canyon Road to the national forest section of Sabino. Dogs are allowed at Pima Co parks

Oh, that's a different story...